Only 5 photos to take in the hospital, you say? I mean, I have a longer list, which you can find here or at the bottom of this post. But I’m trying to go easy on your pregnancy brain (real thing, technical term) and not give you too much to remember. Also, you’d be surprised what suddenly doesn’t matter when you’re in labor, and immediately afterwards. You’re going to let a lot of things go (including, possibly, your bowels) and it just won’t matter. And then months or years later you’ll think back and wish you had a photo of X. Let’s talk about X, and narrow down the possible X photos you might want.

X = labor.

Labor isn’t all vaginas and blood. There’s lots of waiting. In fact, most of labor is a lot of waiting around for something to happen. Take a photo (or a series of them) as you progress through the stages, so you can see it from the outside once you’re done.

X = immediately post delivery.

I was a real mess both times, especially with my second when I decided to wear mascara and forgot it wasn’t water proof. In fact, I joked on social media that I looked like I’d had a real hard night at the club, instead of going through labor. (Also, why did no one in that room attempt to wipe the mascara off my face?) Anyway, the moments immediately following delivery are the fuzziest, clearest, most beautiful moments, and my husband took amazing photos of that moment for me with his phone, twice. Even if I look a mess, I’m really glad I have them.

X = your new family together.

I managed to fail to remember this both times with my kids, so don’t think that it’s going to be easy. If you have a doula, you can ask her while you’re in the prep stages to please remember to do that, and then chances are better that someone will remember. The photos I have are unposed (my favorite) and no one is looking at the camera, but we at least have something of the parents with the new baby both times.

X = a unique feature your baby has.

“So much hair” was the unique feature that both of my kids had when they were born. Maybe yours has a birth mark shaped like a heart, their umbilical cord is tied in a “love knot,” or they love to suck on their fingers already. It will be adorable because it’s your baby. Snap away.

X = Baby meeting family members.

If you’re able to have visitors, and they come to visit you in the hospital after you’ve given birth, pull out your phone or camera and take a couple of photos of the family members meeting your little nugget for the first time. That seems like a no-brainer, until you have no brain from long labor, delivery, and lack of sleep. Also file “get a picture of your partner with the baby” with this one. Again feels like a no-brainer. Again, not so much when you’re in the thick of it.

I have five more ideas, as well as some tips for taking pictures in the hospital, which you can find here on my free downloads page. But I hope this gets you started and thinking about it. Also, note that most of these will need to be taken by someone else, like your doula, partner, or birth support partner. If there’s ever a time to be included in the photos, it’s now. Download the guide!